Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

1 ADJ If something is useful , you can use it to do something or to help you in some way. □ [+ for ] The slow cooker is very useful for people who go out all day. □ [+ in ] Hypnotherapy can be useful in helping you give up smoking. □  The police gained a great deal of useful information about the organization. ●  use|ful|ly ADV [ADV with v] □  …the problems to which computers could be usefully applied. □  We need to find ways of dealing creatively and usefully with our feelings. ●  use|ful|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] His interest lay in the usefulness of his work, rather than in any personal credit.

2 PHRASE If an object or skill comes in useful , it can help you achieve something in a particular situation. □  The accommodation is some distance from the clubhouse, so a hire car comes in useful. SYNONYMS useful ADJ 1

helpful:The following information may be helpful to readers.

effective:Simple antibiotics are effective against this organism.

valuable:The experience was very valuable.

beneficial:…vitamins which are beneficial to our health.

worthwhile:The President's trip to Washington this week seems to have been worthwhile.

use|less /juː sləs/

1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something is useless , you cannot use it. □  He realised that their money was useless in this country. □  Computers would be useless without software writers. ●  use|less|ly ADV □  His right arm hung rather uselessly. ●  use|less|ness N‑UNCOUNT □  The car had rusted almost to the point of uselessness.

2 ADJ If something is useless , it does not achieve anything helpful or good. □  She knew it was useless to protest. □  …a useless punishment which fails to stop people trafficking. ●  use|less|ly ADV □  Uselessly, he checked the same pockets he'd checked before. ●  use|less|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the uselessness of their research.

3 ADJ If you say that someone or something is useless , you mean that they are no good at all. [INFORMAL ] □  Their education system is useless. □ [+ at ] He was useless at any game with a ball.

4 ADJ If someone feels useless , they feel bad because they are unable to help someone or achieve anything. □  She sits at home all day, watching TV and feeling useless. ●  use|less|ness N‑UNCOUNT □  …the sense of uselessness and the boredom of empty days.

Use|net /juː znet/ N‑UNCOUNT Usenet is a computer network that links newsgroups on the internet. [COMPUTING ]

user ◆◇◇ /juː zə ^r / (users ) N‑COUNT A user is a person or thing that uses something such as a place, facility, product, or machine. □  Beach users have complained about people walking their dogs on the sand. □ [+ of ] …a regular user of Holland's health-care system. □ [+ of ] …a user of electric current, such as an electric motor, a lamp, or a toaster.

u ser-frie ndly ADJ If you describe something such as a machine or system as user-friendly , you mean that it is well designed and easy to use. □  This an entirely computer operated system which is very user-friendly. □  …user-friendly libraries.